Folding grapnel anchor



Feb. 7, 19%) E5. TAMM 2496,503

FOLDING GRAPNEL ANCHOR Filed May 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 F a 34 E993 1g. a /5 5'5 5/ a a5 $6 5 f a -4 I, m

Feb. 7 1950 B. TAMM 2,496,503

FOLDING GRAPNEL ANCHOR Filed May 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lawma- Feb, 7 195@ B. TAMM 2,495,593

FOLDING GRAPNEL ANCHOR Filed my 5; 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 3 m w fig patented Feia. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING GRAPNEL ANCHOR Bror Tamm, Quincy, Mass.

Application May 5, 1948, Serial No. 25,167

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to anchors, and more particularly to the grapnel type of anchors. Such grapnel anchors are formed with a shank and a plurality of prongs or fiukes extending from the end or crown of the shank and at divergent angles.

These anchors are of light weight, strong, easily constructed, and most efficient in holding power, but are subject to the disadvantage of not being easily stowed. Thus a standard type of grapnel, whether of three, four, or five-pronged construction, always had the arms rigid, usually with sharp points at the end of each fluke, and was a constant menace to crew and rigging when not in use.

I have discovered a novel and efiicient method of so designing and constructing a grapnel anchor as to overcome the objectionable features above briefly outlined, and to enable the prongs, arms, or fiukes of a grapnel type of anchor to be folded, collapsed, or housed into compact form, for stowin on deck or below decks, and for packaging, transporting, or shipping in a compact form.

In carrying out my invention of a foldable grapnel, I maintain all the advantages of the grapnel type, of simple and economical construction, light weight, and efiicient holding power, together with the desirable features of folding the separate prongs or arms in a compact nested position so that it can be laid flat on deck, or stowed in a small space, and without the prongs projecting to injure the crew or catch articles.

I have designed my folding construction so as to permit instant change from operative or expanded position to inoperative or folded position, without the use of bolts, keys, or the like as now required in anchors having a folding stock, thus saving time and work especially in an emergency.

The change from operative to inoperative position is accomplished by a quarter turn, viz., 90 of the fiukes, and I arrange the flukes in pairs, which permits the quarter-turn operation. I also provide bracing and locking elements which will hold the pairs of flukes braced and locked in either folded position for stowing, or expanded relation for operative use.

By providing a feasible folding grapnel anchor, I have greatly enlarged the scope and field of usefulness of this highly desirable type of ground tackle. Heretofore, grapnels were restricted to use in small boats, but my invention enables grapnels of relatively large size to be employed, because of the advantages of folding and stowing. Thus, a greatly increased range of grapnel anchors in length, diameter, of holding fiukes, and

2 weight can be offered to the boatman, sailor, yachtsman, and fisherman.

The relatively light weight of the grapnel type, and great holding power, wherein two fiukes always dig into the holding ground, enable my improved anchor to be made out of light metal or alloys, as well as of iron or compositions of both.

Referring to the drawings illustrating several modifications of my invention:

Fig. 1 illustrates one form of folded or nested position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the same in expanded position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the locking brace;

Fig. 5 is a view of a modification in folded position;

Fig. 6 is a view of this form in expanded or operative position;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of the holding and locking braces;

Fig. 9 is a view of a simpler modification in nested position;

Fig. 10 is a view of this form in expanded position;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on the line lI-l| of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail of the holding brace.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, I arrange two pairs of flukes and arms, a slightly longer and wider pair having arms 2 and 4 united by a U-shaped portion 5, and at the opposite ends branching into angular flukes or prongs l and 8, ending in palms I0 and I2. The cooperating pair comprise shanks or arms l5 and i6 united at 18, and with divergent prongs I9 and 2E ending in palms 2i and 22. The shanks l5 and iii are bent inwardly, as indicated at 25, to facilitate the turning action, as will be explained.

At the portion of the shanks just above the bends 25 is a cross-bar 26 which will strike a curved bar 21 extending between the wider spaced shanks 1 and 8 and prevent complete separation of the two pairs during the longitudinal and quarter-turn movement when shifting from folded or inoperative position to expanded or operative position. A short brace 29 is preferably fitted between the shanks l5 and I6 where the prongs I9 and 20 start to branch out to give my grapnel in strength and rigidity to the same, being welded together. Also welded to the wider shanks 2 and 4 is a fluted brace 30 encircling at all times the pair of arms [5 and I5 and constituting holding and locking braceswhere both pairs are in rightangled position ready for use, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A top brace 3| is also provided, being similarly fluted to the brace 30 but on a shorter diameter. A shackle or hook 33 to which the rod or cable 34 is fastened locks the two pairs together by engaging the U-shaped portions 5 and I8.

Thus, with the pairs in nested position as shown in Fig. 1, a longitudinal motion until the cross-brace 26 strikes the curved brace 21 is effected; and thereupon a quarter-tum enables the bent parts 25 to turn within the'encircling fluted brace 30, and then a return longitudinal motion enables the shanks l5 and I6 toride in the side flutes of braces 30 and 3|, holding and bracing all four shanks in expanded and operative position. Snapping in the hook 33 couples the anchor ready for use. Reverse movement provides for the nesting or folding.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7, and 8, a similar construction of pairs of shanks, prongs, and palms are used but the interlocking device to keep the two pairs from being completely separated is different. In this form, the crosspiece 35 welded to the top portion of the narrower pair of shanks l5 and Hi just above the bent portions 15 is of S-shaped form and will act as a stop or limit of lengthwise separating movement when the quarter-turning action is to be made.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 9, 10, l1, and 12, this is a much simpler form and permits complete lengthwise separation of the pairs to be effected, before the quarter-turning action, either for expanding or for nesting. As shown, the wider pair of shanks 40- and4l united at 42, and with angular prongs 43 and 44 ending in points or with palms 45, are held in rigid position by fluted braces 46 and 41.

The narrower pair of shanks 50 and'5l, united at 52, are formed without any bent sections 15 as in the prior forms. These shanks have straight welded braces Hand 55. Relative longitudinal motion from either nested or expanded position until the pairs are completely separated is made, as shown in Fig. 12, whereupon the 90 or quarter-turn is made and the pairs reassembled. In this form, the pairs can be separately stowed or used, as well as nested together as shown in Fig. 9.

In all forms a sturdy, strong, but light and efficient construction is effected, with facility for quick change from operative to inoperative, or reverse, position without keys, wrenches, or tools.

I claim:

1. A folding grapnel anchor of the kind described, comprising a plurality of shanks and flukes arranged in pairs, each pair consisting in a double shank, with each shank having a fluke at one end, a loop uniting the shanks of each pair at the end opposite said flukes, a fluted brace adjacent the flukes welded to the double shanks of one pair, and having fluted recesses at right angles thereto to detachably receive the double shanks of the adjacent pair, and to be interlocked into operative or inoperative position by a ninety degree turning action.

2. A folding grapnel of the kind described, comprising two pairs of flukes, each pair comprising double shanks united at the end opposite to the flukes, braces rigidly secured to one pair of double shanks adapted to interlock with the double shanks of the opposite pair by a relatively lengthwise and quarter-turn movement.

3. A folding grapnel of the kind described, comprising two pairs of flukes, each pair having shanks united at the end opposite to the flukes, one pair being of slightlyereater length whereby the shorter may benested therein, a brace on the longer pair partly encircling the shorter whereby a relative lengthwise and quarter-turn action will shift said pairs into operative or inoperative position.

4. A folding grapnel of the kind described, comprising two pairs of flukes, each pair having shanks united at the end opposite to the flukes, one pair being of slightly greater length whereby the shorter may be nested therein, a locking brace on the longer pair partly encircling the shorter whereby a relative lengthwise and quarter-turn action will shift said pairs into operative or inoperative position and be automatically locked in said relative positions by the action of the locking brace.

BROR TAMM.

No references cited. 

